As Kathryn Schulz, a book reviewer for New York Magazine, tweeted: “Elected to the Senate today: the first disabled woman, first openly lesbian woman, first Asian woman. Binder full of (bleeping) awesome.”

Think back to early September, right after the political conventions. Republicans believed they had a shot at taking the Senate from the Democrats.

Last month, Republican Richard Mourdock of Indiana– a Tea Partier running for the Senate in a pretty red state who had defeated longtime GOP Sen. Richard Lugar in the primary — introduced mainstream America to the concept of God and “intended” rape. He lost.

Republicans didn’t benefit from the night of historic gains for women. Warren bumped off incumbent GOP Sen. Scott Brown in Massachusetts. Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin will become the first openly lesbian senator after defeating former four-term Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson to fill an open seat from the Badger State.

In Illinois, Democrat Tammy Duckworth became the first disabled woman to be elected to the House when she defeated Tea Party fave freshman Rep. Joe Walsh, who said he opposed abortion even when the life of the mother was at stake.